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A Louisiana man who was arrested in Quitman after Wood County Sheriff deputies seized more than 100 exotic snakes on his property April 20 received jail time in his home state and fine after pleading guilty to animal cruelty charges.

David James Beauchemin, 45, of Oakdale, Louisiana, who testified that his real name was Damon James Heyman in a hearing in Quitman, must serve a year in the state’s jail and pay a $1,000 fine.

When he was arrested in Quitman he was wanted on animal cruelty charges in Louisiana. Heyman had received a two-year jail sentence, but the judge suspended 1 of the years. The fine must be paid within 60 days of his release of Heyman must serve another year in jail.

The snakes seized included pythons, a boa and yellow anacondas and were transported to the Humane Society of North Texas in Fort Worth. Each snake was in need of medical care.

In the seizure hearing on April 25, Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Alice Tomerlin awarded the custody of the snakes to the Humane Society of North Texas in Forth Worth. She also held him responsible for the malnourishment of the snakes and ordered him to reimburse the Humane Society $4,000 for taking care of the reptiles.

Charges are still pending in Wood County.
http://www.news-journal.com/woodcounty/news/louisiana-man-jailed-on-animal-cruelty-charges/article_da05fb67-895c-5a5b-8d62-74815cda204d.html

WWL-TV

KENTWOOD, La. – A man was arrested after he shot a hunting dog that was sent on a track near his home, according to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Several hunters were raccoon hunting last week around Highway 440, west of 1-55, when they sent their hunting dogs into a wooded area to follow a track.

Within moments, the hunters heard the dogs barking and five gun shots.

When they went to find the animals, they saw a man run into a residence and turn off all the lights.

The hunters were granted permission by the man to retrieve their dogs and they found one of the dogs lying dead in a creek bed nearby, said the sheriff’s office.

Deputies and Wildlife and Fisheries agents found five gunshot cartridges and a large amount of blood where the dogs were at the time the shots were fired.

Charles J. Russell, 47, was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals for the killing of the Blue Tick Coon Dog.